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The Sunset Strip

Overview :
No tourist trip to Los Angeles would be complete without taking in the sights of the Sunset Strip--especially if you're looking to... more » experience some L.A. nightlife. With a history that changes with the seasons of different music and fashion fads, Sunset Strip is a mainstay for those looking to have a fun night out on the town in one of the most trendy areas of Los Angeles. Comedy clubs, music clubs, restaurants and even one of the most respected bookshops in L.A. reside here, along with colorful billboards and even more colorful people dining along the many sidewalk cafes that dot the street.

I will take you through the nightlife of Sunset Boulevard, but if you'd like to get there earlier in the day, you'll find nice daytimes views of the city and shopping options in this guide as well. If you'd rather skip the shopping and go straight to the nightlife, I'd recommend starting with dinner at the Rainbow Bar and Grill on the POI list.

There are several options for how to start and end this excursion. If you're able to book a room at a hotel nearby, I would staying at most any of the hotels listed in this tour and ending your night there (all have bars, most with spectacular views; some are poolside and/or on the roof for an added bonus). You're best leaving the car (if you've got one) at the hotel and then taking a cab up and down the strip. If you drive into the Sunset Strip area, it might be best to park your car in one of the all-day/evening pay lots located on Sunset and then walk or take cabs to your destinations. Things are relatively close together, but if you're in heels and/or not looking to walk more than a few blocks, a cab is the way to go.

It's not possible to visit each and every club listed here in a single night, so tailor this adventure to your tastes. Check out the event schedules for each club and see what's going on the night of your visit. Start times for events will vary as well, so stay conscious of when your show will start and allow yourself a couple hours for dinner ahead of time. If you plan to have a late-night meal, take note of Mel's diner (open 24 hours) and head there, or to Dukes, which closes at 4am Thursday-Saturday. less «

Tips:
Most people on Sunset Strip are dressed in their finest fashion-conscious clothing and looking to look good. If you come through in an... more » Old Navy T-shirt and khakis, you will stand out. If you're going out to the clubs, most women will be wearing a little black dress with platform heels and most guys will be in a trendy button-down with slacks.

Free parking around Sunset Strip can be tricky, and if you insist on it, you may end up parking south of Sunset, in which case you'll likely need to climb up a tall hill to get to the strip. There are plenty of pay lots that have late hours and cater to those staying out late at the clubs. I recommend catching a cab to travel up and down the strip as you bar and club hop. Cabs are easy to find outside most venues.

Traffic can get very heavy on Sunset Boulevard, especially on the weekends, so allow yourself extra travel time. less «

Points of Interest

The night starts with drinks and dinner at the this "rock 'n' roll Eatery," which features a restaurant on the first floor, and a club on the second floor called Over the Rainbow, which has a bar, dance floor and DJs.

The Rainbow isn't really known for its food, but for the celebrity activity over the years. Founded in 1972, it opened ... Moreby throwing a birthday party for iconic musician Elton John--what a way to start! Over the years, the celebrity crowd has evolved along with what's popular at the moment. In the 1970s celebrities who would hang out at the Rainbow include musicians like John Lennon, Keith Moon, Grace Slick, Ringo Starr, Neil Diamond, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper and others.

As heavy metal bands became popular in the 1980s, you could find here members of iconic heavy metal groups like Motley Crue, Guns 'n Roses and Poison, no doubt enjoying the company of some of the many groupies known to either waitress or stake out the restaurant.
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9015 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood
310-278-4232
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Hours
Lunch
Monday-Friday 11am-4pm
Dinner
Daily until 2amLess

This place is a landmark in rocker and celebrity history. Opened in 1973, the Roxy, as it's popularly called, was formerly a strip club called the Largo. Since its inception, it's seen a number of iconic performers come through its doors. The first run of the stage version of the "Rocky Horror Show" in 1974 (before it was made into the... More film) and the original Pee-wee Herman revue in 1981 with Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman (before it was made into a movie and kids TV show) both made their debut here. It's also been the setting for live recorded performances by artists such as Bob Marley and the Wailers, Van Morrison, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, and Social Distortion, to name but a few.

The Roxy was also known for the now-closed On the Rox bar that was located above the club. This bar was a kind of playground for celebrities, including musicians like John Lennon, Alice Cooper and Keith Moon. Actor/comedian John Belushi, famous for his roles on "Saturday Night Live" and part of the comedic duo the Blue Brothers with Dan Akroid, hung out here. Reportedly this is where he partied before overdosing in 1982.

The Roxy is a great, intimate venue to catch live music. You just might see a celebrity lurking in the dark corners of this place, but the real reason to come is, yes, the music--the acoustics and size of the venue are magic.
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9009 W. Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood
310-278-9457Less

If you don't choose to end your evening at the Chateau Marmont (last stop on this tour), why not wrap up an epic night in West Hollywood at the greasy spoon of choice among Sunset Strip celebrities?

Dukes opened in 1968 on Santa Monica Boulevard as part of the Tropicana Motel. In 1987 it moved to its current location and has served celebrity... More guests like Jim Morrison, Tom Waits, Janis Joplin, the Runaways, John Belushi, Rickie Lee Jones and others.

Primarily diner food, this restaurant prides itself on also offering healthful vegetarian and vegan options with fresh ingredients. It offers free Wi-Fi and free parking all day in the rear until 8pm, which means during the day you can expect to find more than a few screenwriters taking up residence.
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8909 W. Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood
310-652-3100
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Daily 8am-MidnightLess

Why is it called "A Go-Go?" This is where go-go dancing became popular, that's why. Legend is that one night in the 1960s a short-skirted DJ at the club began dancing during a live set led by a guy named Johnny Rivers (who wrote "Secret Agent Man") and the people in the crowd mistook it for part of the show. The rest is history... More. The go-go dancing style became so popular that Whisky a Go-Go franchises started to spring up across the country.

The Doors were even the house band for a while, before they were fired. The venue also has been host to notable acts such as the Germs, the Kinks, Roxy Music, Oasis, the Byrds, the Police, Motley Crue, Blondie, Patti Smith, Nirvana, the Red Hot Chili Peppers--just to name a very few.

This is a cramped, standing-only venue, which makes it a perfect place to see live music that's geared toward being loud and uncomfortable.
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8901 W. Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood
310-652-4202Less

In addition to a great reputation, rooftop views and pool service, the London West Hollywood boasts celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. His name is on everything--from breakfast to Bloody Marys. The Rooftop drinks menu features beer, wine and several London signature cocktails such as Wimbledon, made of Pimm's Cup No. 1 with fresh citrus, cucumber and... More berries mint leaves, lemon and soda; and the London sunrise, which includes Hendricks, Aperol, muddled cucumber, lemon juice and a Champagne floater.

Tip: If you visit on Wednesday evening at sunset (7-8 pm in the summer months), drinks are reportedly free. Of note, it costs $10 to park, so free is relative, but still a nice touch.

If you are interested in dining at the Rooftop, the hotel notes that it is open to both hotel guests and outside visitors, but that reservations are required for outside visitors (310-358-7788 or GRLWH@luxuryresorts.com).
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1020 N. San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood
866-282-4560Less

The Viper Room is a nightclub that might be a familiar name--in the early hours of Halloween (October 31) in 1993, actor River Phoenix, who received an Academy Award for best supporting Actor nomination for his role in "Running on Empty," died of a "speedball" overdose mix of heroin and cocaine on the sidewalk out front.

The ... Morevenue was partially owned by actor Johnny Depp from 1993-2004, and while River lay dying outside, Depp's band P, featuring Flea, the bassist from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, were performing onstage. When news spread through the crowd about what was happening outside, Flea reportedly stopped playing, left the stage and went to his aid, riding in the ambulance to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where attempts to resuscitate Phoenix failed. Up until he gave up his share of the club in 2004, Depp closed the doors to the club on Halloween every year in honor of Phoenix.

Actors Jennifer Aniston and Sean Penn hung out regularly at the Viper Room, and Adam Duritz, singer for grunge rock band Counting Crows, worked at the Viper Room in the mid-'90s.
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8852 W. Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood
310-358-1881Less

Serving the L.A. community since 1975, Book Soup is located in the center of Hollywood nightlife and shopping. The store features author events and signings nearly every night and has more than 60,000 titles in stock specializing in art, film, photography, music, controversial nonfiction and literary fiction.

With floor-to-ceiling shelves to get ... Morelost in for hours and friendly, literate and opinionated staff, you'd be hard pressed to tell you're in one of the most image-and-pop-culture-conscious areas of the world just out the door.
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8818 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles
310-659-3110
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Hours
Monday-Saturday 9am-1pm
Sunday 9am-7pmLess

8. Live! On Sunset clothing (option)

As they say on the website, "LIVE! On Sunset is the Los Angeles-born, 8,000-square-foot-plus space filled with pieces from more than 200 cutting-edge and unique fashion, accessory and lifestyle brands for women and men."

It's a huge floor space filled with the latest trendy clothing for young men and women. If you're looking to pick up ... Morea few fun pairs of jeans before you head home, this is a good place for finding a brand that's likely hard to find or unique to LA.
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8801 W. Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood
310-360-1660
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Monday-Thursday 11am-8pm
Friday-Saturday 11am-9pm
Sunday Noon-6pmLess

9. Sunset and Holloway billboard

Sunset has many billboards that line the strip with ads for new movies soon to come out, clothing brands, hotels, you name it. At Sunset and Holloway going eastbound there is one of the most prominent billboards on the strip, usually with a gorgeous model or two showing off Georgio Armani ware or Calvin Klein underwear or something of the sort.

Open 24 hours, this greasy spoon diner is perfect if you're out at the clubs at 3am and need a little something to snack on before the trek home. On a personal note, this will forever be known as the place I once ate at a table next to singer-songwriter Lionel Richie, famous for his No. 1 hit "Truly."

This location in particular has an ... Moreiconic look to it and has been featured in many television shows and movies since its opening in 1997.
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8585 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles
Restaurant 310-854-7201
To-go orders 310-854-7200
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Hours:
Daily 24 hoursLess

11. H&M Clothing (Option)

If you're looking for something inexpensive to wear to the club, this is the perfect stop. High on fashion and low on prices, H&M is taking over the nation's youth fashion sense and guiding the trends. This H&M is one of the biggest stores of in chain.
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8570 W. Sunset Blvd. # 2
West Hollywood
310-855-9683
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Monday-Wednesday 10am-7pm... MoreThursday-Saturday 10am-8pm
Sunday 10am-7pm

The bar is small and dark but filled with celebrity ghosts past and present. At last check, it was permissible to take drinks outside and by the pool. The hotel, restaurant and spa openly celebrate the colored events that have gone down on the property, and its famous guests seem to share in the tongue-in-cheek storytelling.

Case in point, the... More band Kings of Leon jokingly signed a photo of themselves with the words "Scene of the crime!" (The full celebrity gallery and quote board is listed below).

Opening in 1994, House of Blues is a live music venue that also features a restaurant upstairs with southern-style food, such as jambalaya, shrimp and grits, and buttermilk fried chicken. The venue is covered in tin that is from a gin mill just 500 feet away from the Delta crossroads -- the mystical field where Robert Johnson created his famous... More partnership with the Devil for his soul. This venue is rustic, yet cozy, and it's hard to find a bad place in the house to stand to see the show. Tupac Shakur played his last show here, and during his spring 2011 stint through Los Angeles, Prince also played here. An apparent tradition of this and every House of Blues venues across the nation is to keep a metal box of mud from the Delta Mississippi underneath its stage.

A variety of musicians perform on stage here on any given night, ranging from heavy metal bands to hip hop artists to gospel on Sundays as part of their Sunday Gospel Brunch, with seatings from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (on select Sundays). Call (323) 848-5113 for reservations.

Andaz is a concept hotel for Hyatt. It has an on-site restaurant called RH, which includes a bar that is open to visitors (hours listed below). The hotel also has a rooftop bar called the Sundeck, which features a pool and views of the city, but is reserved for guests of the hotel.

The dress code at RH allows for jeans, but most people go for a... More sophisticated look. The dress code at the Sundeck is casual as well.
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8401 Sunset Blvd,
West Hollywood
323-656-1234
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RH Bar hours
Sunday-Wednesday 11:30am-Midnight
Thursday-Saturday 11:30am-1:30am
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Valet $7 with validation from RH
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The Sundeck Hours
Open as weather permits, sunrise to sunsetLess

If you're looking to ride, or rather, attempt to ride a mechanical bull, and maybe have a steak too, this is your kind of restaurant. Touting itself as a "rock meets Western" establishment, Saddle Ranch opened its doors in 1999 and has since been featured in many a TV show, including "Sex and the City."

The walls are... More decorated with Western props and memorabilia and there is a large outdoor patio with stone campfire pits where guests can reportedly roast their own s'mores.

In May 2011 VH1 started a reality showed based around the lives of the staff at the Saddle Ranch. For more information on the show, go to http://www.vh1.com/shows/saddle_ranch/series.jhtml
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8371 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles
323-656-2007
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Hours
Monday-Friday 11am-2am
Saturday-Sunday 9am-2amLess

The Standard is a hotel known for its funky, hip crowd, avante-garde decor and after-hours bar scene. The poolside lounge serves food from the restaurant with an "al fresco twist" and features unique cobalt blue miniature golf-style astroturf, beautiful views of the city and great people-watching fun. In the evenings DJs play music by... More the poolside and the pool lights lend a nice, chilled-out, relaxing vibe. Expect a trendy crowd, but not overly dressed up.
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8300 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood
323-650-9090
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Hours
Sunday-Thursday 9am-10pm
Friday-Saturday 9am-1amLess

The first person to perform at the Laugh Factory was stand-up comedian, actor, social critic and writer Richard Pryor, who legend has it, refused the $100 payment at the end of the night, insisting the owner, Jamie Masada, use it to pay rent.

Masada is known for his work in casting the controversial Fox comedy show "In Living Color" in... More the early 1990s, which launched the career of famous comedians Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx in addition to the Wayans brothers. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, Masada opens doors and serves free food to the homeless, and his work with underprivileged children, including a comedy camp, has earned him many awards, including the NAACP Freedom Award.

"Touched with scandal and commemorated in literature," says the Los Angeles Times of the Chateau Marmont. Modeled after the royal residence in France's Loire Valley, this hotel has seen so many celebrities and has been the origin of so many tmz.com stories that it's impossible to count. With a guest list ranging from writer F. Scott... More Fitzgerald (who reportedly suffered a heart attack here) to actress Lindsay Lohan, it's understandable why it's known so well for its room inhabitants alone. The history is thick here and stories of celebrity abound. John Belushi died of a drug overdose in 1982 here in one of the garden bungalows--just to give you an idea of the history.

Seemingly fully aware of its own reputation, the Chateau Marmont prides itself on its notoriety for being a naughty playground of many a celebrity. On its website it says, "Chateau is the perfect co-conspirator." Harry Cohn, founder of Columbia Pictures, said, "If you must get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont."

Suites and bungalows feature a full kitchen and dining area, and 300-square-foot standard bedrooms starts at $415 a night. Those just looking to have a glimpse can go to the bar-restaurant, where the executive chef is the former chef de cuisine at the Spotted Pig in New York. Serving "ingenious snacks and hearty pub food," according to the LA Times, you'll find an eclectic crowd here with an extensive cocktail menu, including a Pimm's Cup (my personal favorite United Kingdom cocktail!).
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8221 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood
323-650-0575
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Restaurant hours
Daily 6pm-2amLess

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